CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

TRUTH HURTS

ETIENNE LUCIER:

Leah appeared at the front door of her Mom's house just as I jumped out of her old bedroom window. I had been listening in and spying on their reunion. Sue had been so happy to see her daughter again that at first she didn't even notice the changes in her. Then her happiness turned to shock when she felt her cold skin, looked into her kaleidoscope eyes and saw how much Leah's looks had changed. Sue simply couldn't comprehend that Leah had been so close to death the night of her nineteenth birthday, that I'd had no choice but to change her. She had demanded to know why no one had taken her daughter to Carlisle Cullen or even the hospital. She simply didn't want to think of her daughter as a vampire even if the truth was staring her right in the face. It was sad for Leah because I knew my beloved wife so wanted her Mom to be okay with this. Seth had arrived home too because Leah had phoned him earlier in the day. He was pleased to see her and instantly hugged her, tears pouring down his young face. It was only Sue who was unhappy with the situation. She cried and wailed telling Leah she had brought shame on their family, one of the oldest families on the reservation. What would the founding father's of the Quilette tribe say? What would the rest of the pack and the Elder's say? Sue was distraught at the thought of others being horrified by what her daughter had become. This caused Leah to say some mean things about Harry being less than perfect, which caused more tears from Sue. Poor Seth was stuck in the middle. I had been surprised at Sam Uley's reaction to us. I hadn't even used my mind control on him. I guessed he still wore the moonstone around his neck any ways and always would. Embry had taken the news well too. He was happy to see his half sister again and he had never had anything against me in the past.

I hated hearing my love in pain. I knew she was acting all cool and collected but inside she would be angry, hurt and lost. Us vampires couldn't cry but we did feel pain and loss, perhaps even more acutely than humans. When Leah marched to the front door to escape her Mother's wrath, I jumped down ready to embrace her. When Sue saw me she gave a wail of distress, "Get away from this house blood sucker! Leave my daughter alone! You killed her! You changed her! You took her away from us, you monster!" she screeched. I stepped back in surprise and shock. I guess I had underestimated a Mother's love for her child. I took Leah's hand in mine and led her away, but she stopped and whipped around quickly to address her Mother for the last time, " I love this "monster" with all my heart and soul Mom! In fact I love him so much that I became his wife! Yes, you heard me! Etienne and I are married, we're vampires and we will be together for all eternity! If you want nothing to do with me any more then that's your loss!" she spat out with venomous fury. She looked even more beautiful when she was angry and I wanted her right here and now so badly. Her topaz eyes shone with indignation, but she smiled at Seth and told her brother she would call him. He smiled back and waved before Sue could bite his head off for taking sides. I knew Seth and Leah would not lose touch. Hopefully Sue would come round but there was no way we were staying around here. It was too difficult for a vampire to remain in their home town, amongst their old friends and family. We would stay young and untouched by time whilst everyone around us would grow older every second of every day. It was impossible to watch that happen. I wondered why Bella put herself through it with Charlie? Victoria had taken me away from my family who had believed me to be murdered. So she told me any way. I never did know for sure and never would.

Leah and I walked away hand in hand. She was defiant, proud and determined not to let me see her pain. I had never loved her more. We had another visit to make before we left. We sped through the woods towards the Cullen house, the wind in our hair and a purple twilight sky above us. Through the trees the house came into view, Bella stood on the raised decking gazing out into the garden, waiting for us. Leah and I swiftly arrived at her feet nervously awaiting her reaction. "Well well look what we have here? A fledgling vampire and her lover. Or should I say husband? " she said with a smile. Leah gasped as Bella laughed, "Alice can see you now Leah. You aren't hidden to her now. Not now you are one of us! Come here, my friend" Bella softly said with her arms outstretched. Leah gladly ran up the steps and into her arms for a friendly hug. I smiled at the happy scene. Bella indicated I come forward,so she could give me a welcoming hug too. "I'm so happy for you both, and I'm so glad it all turned out well in the end. I know you had to go through some hard times to get here but now all that matters is the two of you" Bella gushed happily. Leah and I smiled as I took her hand in mine. We did have our happy ending. We should be happy. We would be happy once we were living our lives together as husband and wife properly. We spent a few hours with Bella and Edward and the rest of the Cullens talking about old times and times to come. When it was time to leave we promised we would stay in touch no matter where we were in the world. I suddenly felt a little sad that I was taking Leah away from everything she had known, but we could not stay here. I hoped I would be enough for her. Judging by the way we felt about each other I was pretty confident I would be. Now we flew like the wind back to Vancouver, back to my old mansion which would be our base whilst we travelled. There was a whole world waiting out there that I couldn't wait to show my new wife.

In our bed, in my arms Leah finally told me how sad she had felt today. If she could have cried she would have been in floods of tears. I held her tightly to me ( how good that felt now that I could) as I kissed her sweet cinnamon and vanilla lips softly at first then hungrily and passionately as my desire for her became intense. The Spring moon shone into our window bathing our pale bodies in it's light as we entwined together and lost ourselves to each other again and again. I had eternity to worship her perfection and her beauty. The absolute beautiful truth of this hit me and I thought my still unbeating heart might burst with sheer love and pleasure. Leah was not only my wife but she was also my whole life.

Totally and completely until the stars fell out of the sky and the universe blew away into nothingness. I had lived a long, long,long life and never ever in all that time did I believe I would find someone to love. Someone who would love me back. Someone who was just like me. Someone who knew me inside and out. But it happened. It happened to me.

Now she was here, forever.